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Project eyes creation of a fish farm as the world’s largest vessel

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Norwegian companies Nordlaks and NSK Ship Design have cooperated on a project that could be the beginning of a sustainable revolution in the fish farming industry. If the project is completed as it has been designed, it will result in the creation of the longest ship in the world.

In particular, on the drawing board is a ship known as Havfarm ('Ocean Farm'), 430 metres in length and 54 metres wide, it will lay at anchor, fixed to the seafloor using the offshore industry’s technological solutions. The vessel will be the longest ship in the world. For reference, the world’s largest cruise ship is 360 metres long. The longest hangar ship in the world, the American USS Enterprise, is 342 metres long.

The aquaculture industry is basically being taken from the fjords to the ocean. Norway is a world leader in this field, and the Norwegian industry is comfortable creating solutions that can withstand very tough conditions at sea.

One Havfarm will be able to contain 10,000 tons of salmon –over 2 million fish. For comparison, the Nordlaks salmon slaughterhouse at Børøya produces 70,000 tons a year. The facilities will be able to withstand a significant wave height of ten metres, and can be raised by four metres during inclement weather.

The ocean farm itself will extend ten metres below sea level. The farm will be constructed as a steel frame for six “cages” measuring 50 by 50 metres on the surface, with aquaculture nets going to a depth of 60 metres.

Because steel louse skirts at a depth of ten metres will make sea lice history. When the Havfarm lays at anchor, the spreading area for waste products will be 27 times larger than it would be for ordinary pens, a massive 472,000 square metres. To the extent lice may appear on the salmon, the farm can facilitate the manual removal of sea lice. This also provides a totally chemical-free production.

The use of chemicals to remove lice has been a much-debated environmental issue, and has been a major expense for the industry as well. This is expected to change the direction of the aquaculture industry, which has been struggling due to such issues.

Source:safety4sea

USCG initiatives to improve cyber security

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The US Coast Guard has invested heavily in cyber risk management efforts. These efforts focus on the US Coast Guard Cyber Strategy’s three strategic priorities of: defending cyberspace, enabling operations, and protecting infrastructure.

To achieve these goals, USCG has established or is considering cyber-focused initiatives, that will also improve US's cyber protection and response ability. These are the following:

Reporting Suspicious Activity and Breaches of Security

An owner or operator of a vessel or facility that is required to maintain an approved security plan must report activities that may result in a transportation security incident to the National Response Center.

Cyber Security Framework Profiles

Development of industry segment-specific profiles was led by the USCG’s Office of Port and Facility Compliance (CG-FAC), along with the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence. These profiles are risk assessment tools tailored to specific maritime industry segments. The profiles present a minimum state of cyber security and cyber risk management, and provide the opportunity to plan for future business decisions.

These risk assessment profiles were created for the Maritime Bulk Liquids Transfer, Offshore Operations, and Passenger Vessel Operations segments. A fourth profile focused on Navigation and Automated Systems for Vessels and Facilities is now being developed.

Cyber Risk Management for Vessels

Cyber risk management on vessels is promoted using an international approach. The US delegation worked with member states and industry representatives to develop the IMO MSC/FAC Circular Guidelines for Maritime Cyber Risk Management and MSC Resolution 428(98) Maritime Cyber Risk Management in Safety Management Systems.

Office of Cyberspace Forces

The Office of Cyberspace Forces aims to implement the US Coast Guard Cyber Strategy and manage the Cyber Program. It delivers programmatic oversight and direction for the organization, training, equipping, and operational policy for the cyberspace workforce, and develops strategy and policy for enabling operations and protecting MTS infrastructure.

Marine Transportation System Cyber Awareness Training

This training provides basic cyber awareness with a focus on maritime facility and vessel operations. The awareness training provides personnel basic knowledge of cyber terms and systems that may be encountered throughout the MTS.

Source:safety4sea

ONE Warns of $600 Million Loss in its First Year

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Japanese carrier Ocean Network Express (ONE) expects to book an unexpected $600 million loss in its first fiscal year due to "teething problems," rising fuel prices and staffing shortages.

ONE operates the combined container fleets and containerized cargo businesses of MOL, "K" Line and NYK, and it faced significant difficulties early this year as it attempted to integrate the three lines' organizations and booking systems. Utilization of ONE's combined fleet was just 73 percent in the first quarter of operation, due in part to what K Line described as "clumsy services in the initial stage" of its launch.

"Booking . . . operations were delayed because ONE staff were not completely familiarized with the newly introduced IT system, and the staff were shorthanded. This caused significant inconvenience for customers," ONE acknowledged in a recent note to investors. 

The firm says that it has achieved better than expected savings from business integration. However, liftings and utilization have been persistently lower than hoped, resulting in reduced revenue. The firm has revised its revenue forecast for the full year downwards by $1.2 billion, or about 10 percent. The shortfall in liftings cuts into ONE's profits twice, once for revenue and once again for cost: due to the decreased volume of full containers on backhaul voyages, ONE has had to expend more money returning empty containers to Asian hubs. 

ONE says that its difficulties with bookings are now over, and it is "working earnestly to restore the trust of customers." However, liftings have not yet fully recovered, fuel prices are up, and ONE says that it does not expect to offset higher bunker costs, leading to a downward revision of the year's outlook

Source:maritime-executive

Wind Tower Service Firm Plans to Build Jones Act Ships

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American renewable energy firm Aeolus has contracted with Norwegian shipbuilder Ulstein to design the first wind farm service operations vessel to be built for the Jones Act market. 

Aeolus Energy Group has been providing maintenance services for the onshore wind turbine market for six years. In April, it announced plans to enter the budding U.S. offshore wind market by building a fleet of American-made, American-crewed ships. It also plans to open the first large Global Wind Organization (GWO) safety training center in the U.S. by the middle of next year, providing the certifications for a new American offshore wind workforce.

Aeolus' first vessel will be based on the SX195, an existing Ulstein design. Several examples have previously been built in Norway for Bernhard Schulte Offshore and Acta Marine BV. The hull design includes a rounded stern and Ulstein's distinctive X-Bow in order to reduce slamming, and the ship is fitted with a heave-compensated walk-to-work gangway to transfer technicians to and from wind towers.
The rounded stern of the SX195, shown here on the Acta Shipping vessel Acta Auriga (Ulstein)

Aeolus said that the vessel will be built at an American shipyard, not at Ulstein's own yard in Norway. It did not announce financing arrangements or competing bidders for the order. According to VesselsValue, vessels built at Jones Act-qualified yards typically command a threefold (or fourfold) construction price premium relative to ships built in Asia. The first commercial offshore wind farm in the U.S., Block Island Wind, relied upon a European jack-up vessel to install its equipment, with support from Jones Act tugs, barges and workboats. 

Eventually, Aeolus hopes to build a full fleet of wind farm service vessels, including cable ships, crew transfer vessels and hotel ships to serve wind projects from installation through decommissioning. “The design and ultimate construction of these vessels will result in significant job creation and is a demonstration of confidence in the American shipbuilding industry,” said Elia Golfin, Aeolus' CEO. "We look forward to pushing the envelope in the offshore wind industry where Jones Act-compliant vessels are concerned.”

Source:maritime-executive

The Ocean Cleanup arrives at Great Pacific Garbage Patch

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Shortly after the Dutch foundation The Ocean Cleanup announced that its System is appropriate to conduct a cleanup operation in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, the team has now arrived at the scene aboard the 'Maersk Launcher' to tackle the world's largest accumulation of ocean plastics.

"Happening now: We have arrived at the deployment location in the heart of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and the crew is putting the system into its designated U-shape. The operation is going smoothly. More updates to come,"…the Dutch foundation said in a Twitter update.

As soon as The Ocean Cleanup completed cleanup trials in the Pacific in early October, the NGO conducted a meeting in Rotterdam to fully assess the current situation. After thorough evaluation and discussion, it was concluded that System 001 shall continue to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

The trials showed that U-shape installation attained sufficient speed through water, something that means that it can move faster than the plastics, thus being able to capture it. What is more, it will be able to reorient if wind and wave direction change, keeping a steady state.

System 001 consists of a 600-meter-long (2000 ft) U-shaped floating barrier with a three-meter (10 ft) skirt attached below. The system is designed to be propelled by wind and waves, allowing it to passively catch and concentrate plastic debris in front of it.

Thanks to its shape, the debris will be funneled to the center of the system. Moving slightly faster than the plastic, the system will act like a giant Pac-Man, skimming the surface of the ocean.

Source:safety4sea

Wärtsilä opens the first International Maritime Cyber Centre of Excellence in the world

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The technology group Wärtsilä opens an International Maritime Cyber Centre of Excellence (IMCCE) today in Singapore. The IMCCE consists of a Maritime Cyber Emergency Response Team (MCERT) and a cyber academy. The IMCCE is a world’s first industry solution for the marine industry, founded by Wärtsilä together with its strategic partner in cyber security, Templar Executives. The IMCCE will provide a focal point for the industry to help drive the cyber awareness and response to cyber incidents.

“Cyber is such a critical topic to all players in marine. Taking stewardship in something as important as this, shows that Wärtsilä is committed to transform and digitalise the marine industry. This is the next step in our Smart Marine vision and supports our Oceanic Awakening and Sea20 initiatives,” says Marco Ryan, Chief Digital Officer at Wärtsilä.

“There are three main drivers for the maritime industry to collaborate in improving our cyber resiliency: the vast attack surface that the maritime industry offers to cyber criminals; the inclusion of maritime into the critical national infrastructure of nation states and the pending cyber security regulation by the International Maritime Organisation in 2021,” says Mark Milford, Vice President, Cyber Security at Wärtsilä.

The MCERT is an international cyber intelligence and incident support platform enhancing cyber resilience for the entire maritime ecosystem. It provides international intelligence feeds, advice and support, including real-time assistance to members on cyber attacks and incidents, and a Cyber Security Reporting Portal (CSRP) for its members. The MCERT operates from the Wärtsilä Acceleration Centre facilities launched today in Singapore.

“It’s not a coincidence that the IMCCE is based in Singapore – it’s a country that is forward-leaning in cyber development and a very important location in the maritime ecosystem. Despite its homebase, the MCERT is available for the entire maritime sector around the world, from single vessels to large shipping and tankers to ports, port authorities and suppliers,” Mark Milford tells.

The MCERT is based on a membership model and for those who want to lead the cyber agenda in the industry, it offers an Advisory Board membership. The Advisory Board will comprise of key stakeholders from the Maritime ecosystem in the areas of shipping, oil & gas, ports and cruise ships.

The Cyber Academy’s courses will cover a range of relevant topics, from cyber security coaching for senior management to cyber awareness for all organisational levels within the maritime industry.

“In the face of growing Cyber threats and increasing regulatory pressures it is up to us in the Maritime sector to act now; the IMCCE incorporating the Maritime Cyber Emergency Response Team and the Cyber Academy for Maritime is an exciting opportunity for us all, from the smallest to the largest providers within the Maritime ecosystem, to work together to protect, influence and enable the future of our industry,” says Andrew Fitzmaurice, CEO at Templar Executives.

“The IMCCE is a totally new business model that supports our customers in their industry transformation, whilst demonstrating a step change in clock speed for the company about how we turn an idea into a tangible Cyber as-as Service solution,” Marco Ryan says.

Press release

ICS: Seafarers Won’t Lose Jobs to Automation Yet

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The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has released a new study on the potential effects of autonomous ships on the role of seafarers, indicating that there will be no shortage of jobs for seafarers, especially officers, in the next two decades. 

The report, conducted by the Hamburg School of Business Administration, states: “If by 2025 very optimistically some 1,000 ships will be fully autonomous and some further 2,000 vessels semi-autonomous, this may possibly reduce demand for seafarers by 30,000 – 50,000. However, at the same time the need for highly skilled remote-operators, pilots of a new kind and riding gangs will be needed to keep ships operational.”

With an overall increase of the world fleet, at least the number of officers on board will remain stable. At the same time the number of “crew” on shore in supporting functions will increase, possibly significantly. This leaves valuable time to adapt training patterns and re-train experienced seafarers with digital competencies.

Many seafarers from developing countries may find it difficult to get work ashore in their home countries, states the report. Ratings rely on the remuneration they receive to support both their immediate and also extended families and therefore are extremely concerned that their jobs may disappear with automation. Many ratings join the profession following in the footsteps of their parents and grandparents and are therefore concerned that this career path may not become available for their offspring in the future.

Labor unions have voiced their concern. The February issue of The Nautilus Telegraph reported on the feedback that it had received from a survey of over 1,000 members from 21 unions within the Nautilus Federation. The majority of feedback suggested that automation was seen a threat to maritime professional’s jobs and that unmanned vessels presented a safety threat at sea. The study argued that the rush by manufacturers and maritime nations into investing capital and time into researching autonomous systems and digitalization for ships has meant that important social and human issues such as skills are being neglected.

A paper published by the International Transport Federation and the International Federation of Shipmasters’ Associations at MSC99 cited the risk of collision and unregulated activities. It indicated that over 80 percent of seafarers have voiced their anxiety about possible job losses. 

The ICS report notes that this shows that automation is likely to face opposition from seafarers and their unions if introduced in a manner which focuses primarily on the rush to be first and cost cutting for the sake of cost cutting. It also highlights that gaining public acceptance may also be an issue which will influence the decisions made by lawmakers and regulators.

The relationship between seafarers and digitalization is anticipated to be one of the main topics for discussion during an International Labour Organization sectoral meeting on “Recruitment and Retention of Seafarers and the Promotion of Opportunities for Women Seafarers” to be held in Geneva in February 2019. 

Source:maritime-executive

Samsung Heavy wins US$185 mln LNG ship order from Oceania company

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Samsung Heavy Industries Co. said Monday it has received a US$185 million order to build a liquefied natural gas carrier for a company in the Oceania region.

Samsung Heavy said it is set to deliver the carrier, which can hold 174,000 cubic meters of LNG, to the client by January 2021.

The company didn’t provide the name of the shipper.

So far this year, Samsung Heavy has obtained orders to build 41 ships valued at $4.9 billion.

Source:hellenicshippingnews

Port Of New Orleans Handles Largest Container Ship To Date

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The Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) welcomed its largest container ship ever when the CMA CGM operated Pusan C, a 9,500 twenty-foot-equivalent unit (TEU) vessel, called on Oct. 8 at the Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal operated by Ports America.

“The deployment of larger vessels highlights our strong growth in container volumes and the success of the PEX 3 service connecting America’s heartland to global markets like Asia,” said Brandy D. Christian, Port of New Orleans President and CEO. “Gulf Coast container volumes are predicted to continue to rise, and we look forward to capturing the growth opportunities with our ocean carrier partners like CMA CGM.”

CMA CGM, the world’s third-largest container carrier, operates the Pusan C as part of the company’s PEX 3 Service, a direct weekly container service to Asia from Port NOLA. The PEX 3 Service is part of the Ocean Alliance which includes CMA CGM, OOCL, Evergreen and Cosco. The direct ports of call are: Singapore, Vung Tau, Hong Kong, Shekou, Ningbo, Shanghai, and Busan, Korea, with connections to over 30 destinations throughout Asia.

CMA CGM currently operates three weekly services from Port NOLA, the PEX 3 Service to/from Asia, the Brazex Service to/from the Caribbean and South/Central American ports, and the Victory Bridge Service to/from Northern European ports.

The Pusan C set a record as the largest container vessel to call at the Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal by 1,000 TEUs. The container ship arrived at Port NOLA continues to experience growth in total containerized cargo volumes.

Port NOLA recorded a 20 percent growth in containerized cargo volumes in the first three months of the fiscal year 2019 over 2018 (July-September). The growth in containerized cargo has been driven by overall export growth as well as increased imports.

To stay ahead of market demand, Port NOLA is implementing a Strategic Master Plan that presents a menu of strategies to optimize current assets and extend the Port’s reach across all business lines.

Source:marineinsight

Offshore contractors prepare for upturn

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Firmer oil prices and improving sentiment have been catalysts for several key strategic moves in recent days, as offshore contractors align themselves to make the most of the imminent upturn.

Several mergers and takeovers signal more consolidation in the offshore sector as contractors seek to widen their appeal and capitalise on economies of scale.

Last week’s all-stock merger between leading offshore drilling contractors Ensco and Rowan is creating the world’s largest drilling company with the broadest geographical spread and capable of working across all water depths. According to analysis by Oslo-based analysts Rystad Energy, the combined fleet will consist of 82 units comprising 28 floaters and 54 jack-ups.

Thirty-eight rigs in the jack-up fleet and 11 of the floaters are high spec, Rystad said, giving the combined entity one of the most capable fleets in the industry. Ensco’s entry into the harsh-environment Norwegian market where it has not been present before, and the creation of the largest high-spec jack-up drilling entity in the Gulf of Mexico are two outcomes of the deal, the analyst noted.

This latest consolidation follows the move by drilling contractor Transocean little more than a month ago to acquire Ocean Rig in a deal valued at $2.7bn. This follows Transocean’s acquisition of Songa Offshore earlier this year.

In another significant development last week, it was announced that Baker Hughes is to take a 5% stake in Abu Dhabi National Oil Company’s (ADNOC) drilling operation for a price of $550m, valuing ADNOC Drilling at about $11bn. Analysts highlighted the significance of this move since it is the first time that a foreign entity has taken a share in any of ADNOC’s service companies.

The tie-up will allow ADNOC Drilling to be not only a local player but a global specialist in the drilling and oil service business, said the national oil company’s Chief Executive Sultan Al-Jaber in a Reuters interview. Meanwhile the deal will strengthen Baker Hughes’ position in the Middle East where firmer energy prices are generating more activity and underpinning an increase in E&P spending.

Baker Hughes, which was bought by General Electric last year, is one of three offshore contractors bidding for the first offshore contracts in Kuwait. Together with Halliburton and Schlumberger, Baker Hughes is bidding for exploration contracts in Kuwaiti Bay which are likely to be agreed before the end of this year, according to sources. Up to six jack-up drilling rigs will be required to work in water depths of 30-40 metres.

It is not yet clear whether the start of the offshore recovery is good news or not for rig operators with stacked units in Middle East waters. The region is home to the largest number of elderly jack-up rigs and principals are likely to focus on modern units which offer greater drilling efficiency. However, offshore-oriented shipyards will be watching the situation closely: rig mobilisation, refurbishment and upgrade contracts, which petered out following the downturn, would be most welcome.

Source:seatrade-maritime

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